Hose reel and pumping apparatus



Feb. 28, 1967 c. J. FRITZ HOSE REEL AND PUMPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Filed Oct. 12. 1965 INVENTOR. CLARENCE d. FRITZ IIII 7 FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 c, J, F rrz 3,306,213

HOSE REEL AND PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLARENCE J. FRITZ ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 c. J. FRITZ 33%,213

' HOSE REEL AND PUMPING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTO CLARENCE JFFRITZ El 9 5 1472.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,306,213 HOSE REEL AND PUMPING APPARATUS Clarence J. Fritz, 395 Kossuth, Columbus, Ohio 43206 Filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,189 7 Claims. (Cl. 103-41) The present invention relates generally to portable pumping apparatus and particularly to novel combined hose reel and pumping apparatus.

In general, the present invention comprises a compact hose reel including a pumping means mounted within said reel. A frame for supporting the reel has an axle means rotatably mounted thereon and said reel and pump means are mounted on said rotatable axle. Associated conduit means are operatively connected to said pump means and are also disposed compactly within the reel.

In accordance with the present invention, the novel portable hose reel and pumping apparatus is of compact construction wherein the pump means and associated conduit means are all disposed within the reel.

As another aspect of the present invention the simple construction of the novel hose reel and pumping apparatus affords ease of maintenance while providing efficient' operation.

As another aspect of the present invention, the novel hose reel and pumping apparatus may be used for a variety of different applications, such as, a bilge pump, circulation transfer pump, substitute boiler feed pump and filter pump, for example;

As still another aspect of the present invention, the novel hose reel and pumping apparatus includes a novel by-pass conduit whereby the pump means may be bypassed and fluid may be conducted through the hose from an independent source of pressurized fluid.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which affords ease of maintenance and yet provides versatile, efficient operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which is portable and also capable of a variety of different applications to provide the user with a general all-purpose pumping apparatus.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which may be used as a simple hose reel when desired and yet available fora variety of other pumping applications when necessary.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view partially insection of a portable hose reel and pumping apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the section being taken along line 1--1 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the section being taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a portion of the conduit means of the present invention, the section being taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the pump means and a portion of the conduit means of the present invention, the section being taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a partial side section view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating another portion of the conduit means of the present invention, the section being taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings a portable hose reel and pumping apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a frame 20 provided with integral handle portions 21 to permit the apparatus to be conveniently carried manually from one place to another. However, it is important to point out that if the apparatus is designed on a larger scale; wheels may be simply attached to frame 20 so that it may be rolled from place to place without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

A pair of axles 22 and 23 are rotatably mounted on frame 20 by means of a pair of bearing members 24.

Bearing members 24 are mounted on frame means 20 by bolts 25 and axles 22 and 23 are secured to bearing members 24 by nuts 26 and washers 27.

A handle 29 which is fastened to axle 23 by a cap and nut assembly 31 for manual rotation of axle 23. Axle 22 is hollow and is connected to a conduit which will be described in detail later herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a hose reel, indicated generally at 28, includes a pair of side supports 30 and a plurality of spaced rods 32 which are fastened to supports 30 by nuts 34.

The left side support 30 as seen in FIG. 1 includes a metal reinforcing plate 33 which is fastened to support 20 by a plurality of studs 35. Axle 23 extends through plate 33 and side support 30 and is rigidly fastened thereto by means of nuts and washers 36.

Axle 22 is similarly fastened to the right side support 30 as seen in FIG. 1 by nuts and washers 36. It will now be understood from the above description that reel 28 rotates upon rotation of handle 29 and axles 22 and 23.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, a fluid pump means 38, in the form of a conventional electrically powered pump, is securely mounted on a base or platform 40 which in turn is fastened to a pair of rods 32 by eyes 42 provided on base 40. Therefore it is understood that base 40 and pump 38 rotates upon rotation of reel 28. Pump 38 includes an inlet 44 and an outlet 46.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, a first conduit indicated generally at 48 is connected at one end to pump inlet 44 and includes an outwardly extending portion 50 which is connected to a conventional resilient hose 52. In this manner, hose 52'1nay be connected or disconnected conveniently.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, a second conduit, indicated generally at 54 is connected at one end to pump outlet 46 and communicates with hollow axle 22 at the other end.

A by-pass conduit 56 is provided which connects first conduit 58 with second conduit 54 in a manner which permits fluid to flow through the system without passing through pump means 38. A conventional valve means 58 controls the flow through by-pass conduit 56. If valve means 58 is opened, fluid from an independent source of pressure may flow through the apparatus Without passing through pump 38 which is desirable when pump 38 is not needed and yet a user wishes to use hose 52.

It is important to point out that the conduits 58, 54, and

56 all rotate upon rotation of reel 28 and pump 38 and are disposed within the reel. In this manner, a very compact and yet efficient construction is realized.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer end 60 of hollow axle 22 extends outwardly from frame 20 and a second resilient hose, not shown, is attached thereto in a conventional manner.

It is important to point out that conduit 54 could be designed similar to conduit 58 in order that hosing connected to either inlet 44 or outlet 46 or both could be wound about reel 28 without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Axle 22 would not then be hollow and a portion of conduit similar to portion 50 would be added to conduit 54.

In operation, a conventional switch and wiring system, best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, may be used to connect pump 38 to a voltage source, not shown, such as a battery. An on-olf switch 70 is operatively connected to pump 38 through lines 72 and 74, the ends 76 and 78 of which are connected to a battery, for example, not shown.

The user carries the reel and pumping apparatus to the site of operation which may be, for purposes of description, a boat dock where he wishes to pump excess water from a boat.

The hose 52 is simply pulled from reel 38 and placed in the water collected at the bottom of the boat. The hose, not shown, connected to end 60 of axle 22 may be placed so that water flowing through it runs back into the lake or river. Valve 58 is closed and switch 70 is turned on to start pump 38. Water is then pulled through hose 52, first conduit 58 and pump inlet 44 and pumped out of pump outlet 46, second conduit 54, hollow axle 22 and the hose attached thereto.

After the excess water has been removed, the switch 70 is shut OE and handle 29 is rotated which rotates reel 28 thereby winding hose 52 around reel 28. The reel and pumping apparatus may then be carried back to the users automobile, for example, where it is easily stored in the trunk compartment.

It is important to point out that the reel and pumping apparatus could be adapted quite easily to operate efficiently to spray a chemical or the like on a yard or garden. For example, pump 38 would be reversed in position wherein pump outlet 46 is connected to the long hose 52 through first conduit 48 and pump inlet 44 was connected to second conduit 54, hollow axle 60, and the short length of hosing, not shown. Then a chemical could be pulled through second conduit 54 and pumped out of first conduit 48 and hose 52. Hose 52 could be pulled off reel 28 as the user maneuvered through the area to be sprayed and wound back on the reel when the user was finished. It is important to point out that a variety of applications are possible and the simple structural changes required are all within the spirit of the present invention.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A hose reel and pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; a reel rotatably mounted on said frame; a fluid pump means rotatably mounted within said reel and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet; first conduit means connected to said pump inlet; second conduit means connected to said pump outlet, said first and second conduit means being rotatably mounted within said reel; and resilient hose means including a first portion connected to said first conduit means and a second portion communicating with said second conduit means, at least one of said portions being removably wound on said reel.

2. A portable hose reel and pumping apparatus comprising in combination, a frame; a pair of bearing means rotatably mounted on said frame, one of said bearing means including a hollow axle; a reel mounted on said bearing means including a base mounted within said reel; a fluid pump mounted on said base and including an inlet and an outlet; first conduit means having one end connected to said pump inlet; second conduit means con necting said pump outlet to said hollow axle, said first and second conduit means being rotatable upon rotation of said reel; and resilient hose means including a first portion communicating with one of said conduit means and a second portion communicating with the other of said conduit means, one of said portions being removaly wound about said reel.

3. A portable hose reel and pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; axle means rotatably mounted on said frame means including a hollow end portion; a reel mounted on said axle means; a fluid pump means mounted within said reel and rotatable therewith, said pump means including an inlet and an outlet; first conduit means rotatably mounted within said reel and connected to said pump inlet; second conduit means rotatably mounted within said reel and connected to said pump outlet; handle means operatively connected to said reel for manually rotating'said reel; and resilient hose means including a first portion communicating with said pump inlet and a second portion communicating with said pump outlet and said hollow end portion of said axle means, at least one of said portions being removably wound on said reel.

4. A hose reel and pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; a reel rotatably mounted on said frame; a fluid pump means rotatably mounted within said reel and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet; first conduit means connected to said pump inlet; second conduit means connected to said pump outlet, said first and second conduit means being rotatably mounted within said reel; by-pass conduit means connected between said first and second conduit means for conducting flow around said pump means; valve means disposed in said by-pass conduit means; and resilient hose means including a first portion connected to said first conduit means and a second portion communicating with said second conduit means, at least one of said portions being removably wound on said reel.

5. A portable hose reel and pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; a pair of bearing means rotatably mounted on said frame, one of said bearing means including a hollow axle; a reel mounted on said bearing means including a base mounted Within said reel; a fluid pump mounted on said base and including an inlet and an outlet; first conduit means having one end connected to said pump inlet; second conduit means connecting said pump outlet to said hollow axle, said first and second conduit means being rotatable upon rotation of said reel; by-pass conduit means connected between said first and second conduit means for conducting flow around said pump means; valve means disposed in said by-pass conduit means; and resilient hose means including a first portion communicating with one of said conduit means and a second portion communicating with the other of said conduit means, one of said portions being removably wound about said reel.

6. A portable hose reel and pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; axle means rotatably mounted on said frame means including a hollow end portion; a reel mounted on said axle means; a fluid pump means mounted within said reel and rotatable therewith, said pump means including an inlet and an outlet; first conduit means rotatably mounted within said reel and connected to said pump inlet; second conduit means rotatably mounted within said reel and con-nected to said pump outlet; by-pass conduit means connected between said first and second conduit means for conducting flow around said pump means; valve means disposed in said by-pass conduit means; handle means operatively connected to said reel for manually rotating said reel; and resilient hose means including a first portion communicating with said pump inlet and a second portion communicating with said pump outlet and said hollow end portion of said axle means, at least one of said portions being removably wound on said reel.

7. A hose reel and pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; axle means rotatably mounted on said frame and including a hollow end portion; a reel rotata-bly mounted on said axle means and including a pair of side supports and a plurality of rod means eX- tending between said side supports; a fluid pump means rotatably mounted between said side supports of said reel and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet; handle means rotatably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said reel for rotating said reel; first conduit means mounted between said side supports and including one end connected to said pump inlet and a free end extending above said rod means; second conduit means connected to said hollow end portion and to said pump outlet; and resilient hose means including a first portion connected to said free end of said first conduit means and being removably wound about said rod means and a second portion connected to said hollow end portion.

References Cited by the Examiner DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. W. I. KRAUSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOSE REEL AND PUMPING APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME; A REEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME; A FLUID PUMP MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID REEL AND INCLUDING A PUMP INLET AND A PUMP OUTLET; FIRST CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PUMP INLET; SECOND CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PUMP OUTLET, SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONDUIT MEANS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID 